Category: gum contouring

You may not have any missing teeth, but if you feel that something about your smile is just “off,” it may be due to the fact that your gums rest too low on your teeth. If that’s the case, you’re the perfect candidate to receive a cosmetic gum lift.

A gum lift will even out your gum line, providing you with a smile that you won’t be afraid to flash as often as you can. One of the best things about gum lifts is the fact that your local Pittsburgh periodontist can perform this procedure right here in our office.

The procedure is very simple: you’ll head to Dr. Silberg’s office, and we’ll use a combination of techniques to get your gums looking marvelous. Often, Dr. Silberg will use a pen or marker to illustrate where your new gum line will appear in your smile. You can expect a local anesthetic to be applied to the area (just like when cavities are filled) and the usual discomfort associated with any dental procedure.

The recovery process after you undergo a cosmetic gum lift varies from person to person. It’s recommended that you limit your activity level the day of the surgery, and to expect to wait at least three days to a week for your gums to heal completely. Dr. Silberg will give you very specific instructions on how you can help your gums heal more quickly. Following these instructions to the letter will make the process as comfortable as possible. You’ll obviously be advised to eat soft foods – yogurt, cheese, ice cream, eggs, and pasta for the first few days after your surgery. You’ll also be given direct instructions on how to brush your teeth following the gum lift.

In the end, your gum cosmetic gum lift will drastically improve the quality of your smile. If you think you’re in need of a cosmetic gum lift, get on the phone today or schedule a consultation online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xWVOOzvtw

 

Just like Dr. Silberg says in the video above, when the majority of people smile, we raise our upper lip,  and show our teeth with a little bit of gum.  It’s natural and looks like a normal smile.  But there are instances where individuals will smile, raise their upper lip and show a lot of gum and a little bit of teeth. It is much more of a gummy smile.  Which can be lead to make them believe that they have smaller teeth than most. This is not true in the slightest.

We all have the desire to smile. Someone says a joke, we want to pose for a picture, or you just naturally want to express your sense of happiness, but having a gummy smile can make us feel hesitant to show our teeth in public. It can feel embarrassing, and you may struggle to feel confident about your smile. If you believe that you have a gummy smile and may need some help then it can be very wise to schedule an appointment to come and talk with Dr. Silberg about your situation.  As he said in the video, with very minor shaping and resculpting of your gums, your entire tooth (or teeth) can be made visible. Your gums will finally compliment your teeth rather than cover them up. Your self confidence will grow and finally you will not be hesitant to hide your natural and beautiful smile when you are spending time with others and going throughout your day. With the experience and expertise that Dr. Silberg and the staff at Silberg Center for Dental Science have, it is a simple procedure that creates lasting smiles by simply changing the way that your gums sit between your natural teeth.

Now there are also instances that there would be a need to reshape your gums because of gum disease, commonly known as Gingivitis. More often than not when you are faced with gum disease it’s caused from a lack of brushing and flossing, doing it improperly, or a piece of food or different particle that is in a place you can’t reach on your own.  There are a lot of nooks and crannies inside of your mouth that can be difficult to reach.  If this problem is left untreated then your gums will start to become inflamed, which means they turn red, are sensitive if touched, and when brushed can start to bleed.  If you have any of these symptoms with your gums then it is vital that you come in and see Dr. Silberg before more damage can take place.

He can recommend the proper treatment to help your gums become healthy again, and in some instances there might be the need for gum reshaping or repair.  Dr. Silberg’s goal is to provide a healthy happy smile to all of his patients and if your gums are not treated with as much care as your regular teeth, you might actually lose your teeth. Gum disease can lead to bone loss and even loss of teeth.  We want to work with you to prevent those kinds of problems from ever happening to you.  But, do keep in mind that if you have had such an instance happen, you can be rest assured that there are methods to fix the problem. Dr. Silberg is an expert in dental implants, and they can be used to replace missing or lost teeth. What is even better is that they look, feel and act like your normal teeth.

For any additional questions, or if you would like to come in and meet with Dr. Silberg, please contact us to schedule an appointment. We are happy to talk with you about any procedure you might be interested in.

When the gum to tooth relationship has deteriorated, you may hear us suggest a procedure called “crown lengthening”.  Many patients are a little bit hesitant about having this procedure done because it’s a relatively new idea.  They simply aren’t sure what it is and more to the point: they aren’t sure why they have to have it.  So if you have an upcoming crown lengthening procedure scheduled, read on to find out why we might be doing it and what to expect.

What is Crown Lengthening?

The idea behind crown lengthening is to expose more of the tooth or bone under the tooth by contouring and reshaping your gum tissue.  This restores a good “gum-to-tooth relationship” (so that more tooth is showing).

Why am I having this procedure?

Sometimes crown lengthening is done for aesthetic reasons, for example to reveal more pearly white teeth when a patient is concerned about an overly “gummy” smile.

Other times, crown lengthening is necessary if we need to install a new crown or perform other restorative work in the area but there simply isn’t enough tooth showing for us to work with.

What’s the big deal about crown lengthening?

Crown lengthening is a great improvement when you consider the old way we used to deal with this issue which was to remove what was left of the tooth and use a removable denture instead.  Now you get to keep your naturally rooted tooth and we will install a more or less permanent crown – no dentures to deal with!

What is the procedure like?

Usually it can be done in less than an hour, depending on how many teeth need work.  Also, typically the procedure can be done under local anesthesia so you can be in and out on time!

Still have questions?  Call us today to ease your anxieties about this smile-transforming, modern procedure!